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World Press Freedom Day 2017

published on 07.05.2017 by admin

Today the Foreign Correspondents’ Association of Uganda (FCAU) celebrates World Press Freedom Day, joining journalists and supporters of press freedom to defend the media from attacks on our independence and highlighting the central role of freedom of expression and the right to information in advancing peaceful, just and inclusive societies.

World Press Freedom Day marks the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek, when African newspaper journalists issued a statement of free press principles in 1991. Today FCAU stands in solidarity with journalists and media organisations in Uganda who have endured kidnapping, unjustified legal restrictions and break-ins in the past year.

FCAU is a professional association of text, photo and video journalists in Uganda who work for foreign news media. It advocates for the rights of members to work freely, promotes quality journalism and organises off-record briefings with newsmakers. FCAU organises the annual Uganda Press Photo Award showcasing the best of Ugandan photojournalism. FCAU is affiliated to the Nairobi-based Foreign Correspondents’ Association of East Africa.

According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in 2017 attacks on the media have become commonplace and strongmen are on the rise. Uganda has dropped from 102 place in 2016 to 112 in the RSF World Press Freedom Index. FCAU condemns any acts of intimidation or violence intended to stifle the work of journalists around the globe.